Centre drops order for mandatory cybersecurity app on smartphones

THE government on Wednesday withdrew its directive requiring smartphone makers to pre-install a state-run cybersecurity application on all new devices, as it moved to quell rising concerns that the measure could have compromised user privacy or enabled surveillance.

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The Sanchar Saathi app, which the government says only helps track and block stolen phones and prevents them from being misused, will, however, continue to be available on app stores for voluntary downloads.

"The government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers," the communications ministry said in a press statement.